the book of James | Daily Encouragement | Page 17

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“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. ” (James 5:13a, NIV)

Prayer is not the first resource for many of us when we encounter trouble — although we keep it in reserve as a “last resort.” We want first to get free of trouble with our own resources (e. g. intelligence, cunning, friends, wealth. . .).

For the disciple of Jesus, our heavenly Father is not just our first resource, He is our only resource!

Trouble haunts all of humanity. Don’t be surprised when it comes. However, when we run to God, we will be amazed at how quickly the storm passes, and at our composure during the ordeal. – Luther

Tagged prayer, the book of James, trouble

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“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5, NIV)

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.

Having wisdom makes the burden of making the decisions in our lives much lighter. The source of wisdom is God, “who gives generously to all.”

The humorist Will Rogers said, “Learn from the mistakes of others; you won’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” So true.

God’s wisdom is not derived from the collected errors of humanity, but from a perspective that sees all things perfectly. Invite the wisdom of our heavenly Father into your decisions today. – Luther

Tagged God's wisdom, the book of James, Will Rogers, wisdom

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“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.'” (James 4:13-15, NIV)

The late French President Charles De Gaulle is famously quoted as saying: “The cemeteries are full of indispensable men.”

To guard against “overplaying” our hand in this life requires humility, which may be defined as saying, “God, you are God — and I am not.”

The continuous acknowledgement of God’s supremacy as we move from assignment to assignment, and task to task, takes nothing from us. On the contrary, it gives each moment a will and a purpose that reflects the presence of the Almighty. – Luther

Tagged Charles De Gaulle, humility, mortality, the book of James